Abstract: A system and method for transmitting specialized overhead data in the payload section of a standard communication frame such as a modem frame. The overhead data is added to the user payload data and the combination is presented to a communication interface, such as a modem, as payload-only data for transmission. A similar process at the receiving end extracts the overhead data from the payload data presented by the receiving communication interface. The overhead data can include information that is used to interpret the payload data and to identify which type of communications protocol it represents. The overhead data can also include network management information for use by a communications processor.